The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it uncovered 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms and assorted rifle parts following the detailed examination of a seized shipment at the Tin Can Island Port Command. The service made this known in a statement by its National Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Sunday in Abuja. The rifles were discovered in a shipment that was initially suspected to be conveying crates of knocked-down components. However, further examination revealed the presence of fully assembled firearms. Maiwada said the seizure was confirmed after Customs completed the coupling and examination of the arms shipment. The service's Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed that the interception of the container containing the concealed firearm components was a major breakthrough. 'Nigerian ports have become a critical transit point for prohibited items, particularly ahead of major elections,' Adeniyi said. Adeniyi added that criminal networks could exploit the country's borders, ports, and airports to move prohibited items into the country. He further stated that the service would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent the movement of illicit arms and other prohibited items through the country's entry points. The seized firearms have been handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) following the completion of the inventory and assessment. Maiwada also said the service would collaborate with sister security agencies to dismantle arms-trafficking networks. He reaffirmed the NCS commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, stronger border surveillance, and collaboration with sister security agencies to dismantle arms-trafficking networks. The development reflects the commitment of security agencies to removing dangerous weapons from circulation and ensuring that those behind the trafficking network are identified and brought to justice.
'We are about entering a major election cycle and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this,' Adeniyi said.
The NCS has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the proliferation of illicit arms in Nigeria. The service has implemented various security measures to prevent the movement of prohibited items into the country, particularly ahead of major elections. The seized rifles are likely to be one of the largest hauls of illicit firearms in recent times. The discovery underscores the need for increased vigilance at the country's ports and borders to prevent the movement of prohibited items.
Key Facts
• 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms were discovered at the Tin Can Island Port Command • Assorted rifle parts, including 89 frames and 16 heat shields, were also recovered • The shipment was initially suspected to be conveying crates of knocked-down components • The intercepted container was later confirmed to contain concealed firearm components • The NCS has handed the seized firearms over to the NCCSALW for further assessment